OnionVPS vs Contabo
OnionVPS vs Contabo: which VPS host should you choose?
Contabo competes on cheap, high-spec VPS with EU billing; OnionVPS competes on no-KYC signup, crypto-only payment and offshore jurisdictions.
Contabo and OnionVPS are both unmanaged KVM hosts, but they optimise for different things. Contabo is famous for cheap, high-spec VPS — lots of RAM and NVMe per euro — billed by card, PayPal or SEPA against a registered German account. OnionVPS holds no identity beyond an email, accepts only cryptocurrency including Monero, and runs in offshore jurisdictions outside the Eyes alliances.
Last updated 2026-08-13 · Competitor facts are approximate and may change — verify on contabo.com.
| Dimension | OnionVPS | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Identity verification | None — email address only | Account with name and address; ID may be requested |
| Payment methods | Cryptocurrency only (20+ coins) | Card, PayPal, SEPA, Skrill |
| Accepts Monero | Yes | No |
| Virtualisation | KVM, full root | KVM |
| Entry price | $4/month | ~€5/mo (Cloud VPS) |
| Primary jurisdiction | Seychelles + 138 locations (offshore options) | Germany (14 Eyes) |
| IPv6 | /64 routed, included | /64 per server |
| DDoS mitigation | Up to 12 Tbps, included | Included (basic) |
| Connection logs | None generated (0-day retention) | Standard retention (GDPR) |
Where OnionVPS wins
- No identity ever — email only, versus a registered account with name and address at Contabo.
- Cryptocurrency only, including Monero; Contabo bills by card, PayPal, SEPA or Skrill.
- Offshore and privacy-tier jurisdictions outside the alliances; Contabo is a German, 14-Eyes company.
- Zero-retention networking — no netflow, connection or DNS logs generated.
- Up to 12 Tbps DDoS scrubbing included at every tier; Contabo includes only basic protection.
Where Contabo wins
- Exceptional resources for the money — more RAM, vCPU and NVMe per euro than almost any competitor.
- Long track record since 2003 and a growing set of global data centres.
- Dedicated servers, VDS with guaranteed cores, and cheap object storage in the same catalogue.
- Card, PayPal and SEPA billing with proper EU invoices.
Which should you choose?
Contabo is the value champion for high-spec VPS: if you want a lot of RAM and NVMe for very little money and EU billing suits you, it is hard to beat. OnionVPS costs more but adds what Contabo does not — no KYC, crypto-only payment with Monero, offshore jurisdiction and zero-retention logging. Choose on privacy versus price-per-gigabyte.
Choose Contabo if: Anyone who wants the most RAM, vCPU and storage per euro for a lab, media or self-hosting box, is comfortable with a verified EU account and card billing, and does not need offshore jurisdiction or anonymity.
Frequently asked questions
Does Contabo accept cryptocurrency or Monero?
No. Contabo bills through card, PayPal, SEPA or Skrill on a registered account. For crypto-only payment including Monero and no identity requirement, OnionVPS accepts 20+ coins.
Is Contabo cheaper than OnionVPS?
For raw RAM and storage, usually yes — cheap high-spec VPS is Contabo's whole model. OnionVPS charges more but adds no-KYC signup, crypto payment, offshore jurisdiction and heavier DDoS protection.
Does Contabo require identity verification?
You register an account with a name and address and pay by card or bank, and Contabo may request ID to prevent fraud. OnionVPS never asks for identity — only an email address you control.